Arizona teacher in middle of immigration debate

Latino lawmakers Tuesday discuss an incendiary letter written by Tony Hill, a substitute teacher in the west Valley. The letter, which described pandemonium in a classroom full of hispanic students, was read by Sen. Lori Klein during an immigration debate March 17. (Photo by Evan Wyloge/Arizona Capitol Times)

An Arizona substitute teacher has found himself in the middle of the state’s polarizing immigration debate after he criticized Hispanic students in a letter to a state senator, saying a majority of students he recently taught refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

The letter by substitute teacher Tony Hill was read aloud Thursday as the state Senate considered one of five bills on illegal immigration. Hill wrote that a majority of eight-grade students at an unnamed suburban Glendale school said that “We are Mexicans and Americans stole our land.”

Hill also wrote that while substitute teaching in the area, “most of the Hispanic students do not want to be educated but rather (want to) be gang members and gangsters.”

Democratic lawmakers have questioned the veracity of the letter, which was addressed to Senate President Russell Pearce and was circulated among Republican senators. Democrats called the writing offensive and questioned whether Hill was actually a substitute teacher.

“Until he is able to come out and tell us exactly where he taught, I am assuming it is false,” said Democratic Sen. Steve Gallardo of Phoenix, who is mentioned in Hill’s letter.

Officials with five regular public school districts that serve the Glendale area near Phoenix told The Associated Press that they had no record of an Anthony Hill or a Tony Hill working as a substitute teacher there in recent years. It’s not known whether Hill taught at charter schools. Arizona Department of Education spokesman Andrew LeFevre said Hill received his substitute teacher certificate from the state on Oct. 14.

Hill didn’t immediately return several phone calls and emails from the AP on Tuesday.

Hill also wrote in the letter that the students’ regular teacher left instructions for students to finish writing Gallardo to thank him for his position on immigrant rights. The letter also said most of the students mentioned in their letters to Gallardo that they were illegal immigrants and that white Americans were racists.

Gallardo said it’s hard to believe Hill’s contention that students refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and he called for apologies from Pearce for distributing the letter and from Republican Sen. Lori Klein for reading it during last week’s debate on the immigration bills.

Several gasps could be heard in the Senate chamber after Klein finished, and Gallardo responded by defending children in two heavily Hispanic school districts where he’s served as a school board member.

“They do not have dreams to be gang members,” Gallardo told senators last week. “These are good kids.”

The legislation, which dealt with health care, government benefits and everyday activities like driving, failed in Thursday’s votes. On Tuesday, Gallardo said he believes Pearce distributed the letter in hopes of winning votes for the bills.

Pearce, who declined to speak with reporters after a legislative session Tuesday, later issued a statement saying he and Klein won’t apologize.

“A teacher has a First Amendment right to express themselves, and we have an obligation to our citizens to keep them informed on what is happening in our schools,” Pearce wrote, noting that Hill told him he stands by the letter.

An “immigrant” is an individual who already has legal immigration status. They have allegiance to a foreign power, but have indicated a intent to transfer their allegiance to the United States and become US citizens. They have entered the USA legally. They bear a passport or other documents defining to whom their allegiance is currently pledged.

An “illegal immigrant” is an individual who already has legal immigration status. They have allegiance to a foreign power, but have indicated a intent to transfer their allegiance to the United States and become US citizens. They have entered the USA legally. They bear a passport or other documents defining to whom their allegiance is currently pledged. They have been convicted of a crime within the US. This makes them an “illegal immigrant” and probably loose the legal immigration status and become deported.

An “alien” is an individual who has allegiance to a foreign power. They bear a passport or other documents defining to whom their allegiance is currently pledged. They have no intent to transfer their allegiance to the United States and become US citizens. They have entered the USA legally. Examples are foreign tourists and foreign diplomats.

An “illegal alien” is an individual who has allegiance to a foreign power. They bear a no passport or other documents defining to whom their allegiance is currently pledged. They have become illegal by illegal entry to the US. They have entered the USA illegally and violated US law. Illegal aliens have no status as immigrants nor legal status whatsover. If they are on your property they are trespassers. They are subject to immediate arrest as criminals.

It would appear that this story is speaking of “illegal aliens” and not “immigrants”, legal or “illegal”. A note of clarification lest anyone be missled.